TANZA, Cavite – The local government of Tanza declared a “dengue outbreak”, Monday, August 29, 2022, after the number of recorded cases of the disease continued to increase in the locality.

According to Dr. Ruth Punzalan, municipal health officer, their town has recorded 207 cases from January to August this year, or almost double compared to 2020 and 2021 with 125 and 109 cases.

In the 32 to 34 morbidity week in the province, Tanza, which consists of 41 villages, placed 3rd with 79 dengue cases after Imus, which recorded 110 cases, General Trias with 82 cases, Bacoor with 72 cases, and Dasmariñas with 32 cases, while GMA and Magallanes towns had zero cases.

“Dengue cases are now at an outbreak level. We have started taking intensive preventive measures, strengthened advocacy and information dissemination, and dialogues with barangay leaders to help suppress the disease,” Punzalan said on the social media page “Balitang Tanzeño”.

Punzalan blamed the frequent rains for the rapid increase in dengue cases. He added that cases in Tanza could reach 500 before the end of the year if proper interventions are not taken to stop its spread.

He advised residents to keep their environment clean and ensure that possible sources of mosquitoes are destroyed. “We still have four months before the year ends. If the weekly trend does not  change, we will reach over 500 cases.”

“We need your help, together, let’s suppress dengue,” said Punzalan.

“We are at the outbreak level, and dengue does not discriminate. Children and adults, whatever your gender, we are all at risk of getting bitten by mosquitoes,” Punzalan continued.

The top ten Tanza barangays with the most number of dengue cases are Julugan 1 with 23 cases; Sahud Ulan with 17; Biwas with 15; Punta 1 with 14; Bucal 1 with 11; Trec Cruses with 11; Sanja Mayor with ten; Santol with nine; Halayhay and Julugan VI with eight cases each.

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Dennis Abrina